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Committee approves 10-year extensions and rental formula changes for Athletic Park use agreements
Summary
The Parks and Recreation Committee approved first and third amendments to Athletic Park use agreements extending terms for Wausau College Softball LLC and Wisconsin College Baseball LLC, clarifying combined-facility definitions and changing baseball rental increases to a 3% annual automatic adjustment.
The City of Wausau Parks and Recreation Committee on April 7 approved amendments to two separate Athletic Park use agreements covering Wausau College Softball LLC (WCS) and Wisconsin College Baseball LLC (WCB), the entities coordinating softball and baseball operations at Athletic Park.
Jamie, Parks and Recreation director, told the committee the softball amendment clarifies the combined-facility boundary to include the sidewalk outside the entrance where ticket lines form, extends the agreement term by 10 years, and leaves rental fees unchanged from the prior agreement structure. Jamie said the city attorney will review the draft and that the softball amendment would not go to council immediately pending legal review.
On the baseball amendment, the committee approved a parallel definition change for the combined facility, a 10-year extension, and a change to simplify rent adjustments. Under the amendment approved by the committee, baseball rental rates will automatically increase 3% each year rather than relying on the previous multi‑year CPI look-back calculation. Jamie said staff and the Woodchucks representative discussed the change and agreed that a 3% annual step is administratively simpler; the Woodchucks had reportedly accepted the 3% figure during negotiations.
Alder Rasmussen moved to approve both amendments with an explicit request that the city clerk and licensing staff ensure the definition of the Athletic Park premises for licensing (including alcohol licensing) remains limited to the fenced area and does not extend to the public sidewalk included in the combined facility definition. Alder Neal seconded the softball motion; Alder Machin seconded the baseball motion. The committee chair announced both motions passed unanimously.
Jamie noted that changes to the developer parking agreement remain under discussion with community development staff and that those items will come to the City Council later. For the baseball rent change, Jamie said the city can bring back another amendment if the parties later decide to change the annual increase percentage.
The amendments approved by the committee will be forwarded to the City Council and, in the case of the softball amendment, will await final city attorney wording review before being scheduled for council action.
